Advanced Placement Environmental Science 378 Syllabus

 

Hampton Roads Academy                                                 Phone mail: 884-9129 

Teacher: Mrs. Deeley                                                       email: rmdeeley@cox.net or                                                                                                                    bdeele@hra.org

                                                                                         My web site: http://www.sciencebugz.com

 

Office Hours: Blocks C or E &/or by appointment.

 

Course Description: AP Environmental science is the study of the relationship between abiotic, or nonliving components and the biotic, or living components on the sustainability of ecosystems.  The combination of abiotic and biotic components determine the flow of energy between and within ecosystems. Sustainable ecosystems are able to perpetuate themselves not only now but also in the future.  Of great interest is the human impact on abiotic sources, particularly nutrient availability, such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur of ecosystems.  Other major components of sustainability of ecosystems are direct and indirect alteration of ecosystems such as sprawl engulfing land which comprised an ecosystem or alteration of water flow when water availability is usually the forcing function of ecosystems. 

 

This course is equivalent to a four hour college course with a laboratory section.  It can be a freshman 100 level course but is often offered at the 200 level.  In high school, the advanced placement designation connotes college level skills and maturity.  Students will need some background in chemistry and physics and at least one year of algebra.

 

Course Objectives: The student will

 

1.  integrate the flow of energy through biogeochemical cycles from land, to water, and to the atmosphere.

2.  relate the biological demand to the carrying capacity of the ecosystem

3.  compare the distribution of resources to geographical location of population centers.

4.  evaluate economic forces and society’s influence on conservation and consumption of resources.

 

Skills: The student will

 

1. develop critical thinking skills.

2. generate and analyze data in laboratory experiences.

3. analyze and evaluate data in problems and essay questions.

 

 

 

 

Textbook and Materials:

 

Text:  Miller, G. Tyler, Jr.  (2004) Living in the Environment.  (13th edition)  Wadsworth Publishing Company (Division of Thomson Publishing Company) Albany , N.Y.

 

The student is encouraged to keep a notebook of daily objectives, lab reports, literature reviews, and critical thinking essays.                                                                                               

 

Evaluation: Grading is based on points earned. Letter grade percentiles are as appears in the student handbook.  Grade determination is as follows:

1st semester: 1st term 40%, 2nd term 40%, Examination 20%;

2nd semester: 3rd term 40%, 4th term 40%, Final Examination 20%.

Final grade: based on points accumulated over 1st and 2nd semesters.

 

Methods of Instruction:

1. Project based learning.

2. Class discussion with emphasis on integrating and analyzing data.

3. Laboratory experiments.

4. Lecture with focus on developing critical thinking skills.

5. Demonstrations illustrating methods of experimentation.

6. Computer simulations.

 

Methods of Evaluation:

     There is no set total, nor is there any set amount for evaluative instruments.  Generally, in decreasing order of point value, instruments used for evaluation will include:

tests,

laboratory reports,

literature reviews,

critical thinking essays, and

quizzes. 

It is the student=s responsibility to meet with the teacher to arrange for any make up work.  All work must be turned in for grading; late work loses 10% of the total points per day.

 

Evaluative instruments are graded like the AP Exam.  A point for a true, applicable point is awarded within a limited number of points/question. 

 

It is the student’s responsibility to meet with the teacher to arrange for any make up work.  ALL ASSIGNED WORK, OTHER THAN TESTS AND LAB DRAWINGS IN LAB NOTEBOOK WILL BE SUBMITTED ELECTRONICALLY.  THE DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT, NOT ONE MINUTE AFTER, ON THE DUE DATE.  My email addresses are: rmdeeley@cox.net  or bdeele@hra.org.  If you wish to submit a paper copy, you may do so, but only in addition to the electronic submission, not in place of the paperless alternative. 

 

Laboratory experiences are not optional.  Field trips which meet laboratory requirements are not optional.  One question in the essay portion of the AP Exam will be based on laboratory experiences.  There may be several more questions in the multiple choice section of the exam.  There are required topics for laboratory experiments but no specified lab manual for AP Environmental Science laboratory exercises.  A laboratory notebook is required. 

 

Tentative Field Trip Dates (all local):

Lake Maury - deciduous forest (terrestrial ecology)

            11 Sept Thu       G, Lunch, A

St. John’s cemetery human population study

            13 Nov Thu       G, Lunch, A

Other Possible Field Trips:

Water quality

Air quality

HRSD

approximate total cost for all field trips will be $30

 

Course Outline and Tentative Dates for Tests and Field Trips

 

Unit 1: Scientific analysis and Biosphere   

     A. Scientific Method (4 class periods)       

        1. Read Chapters 1, 2 & part of 3.

        2. Labs: Ooops       

     B. Biosphere  (37 class periods)       

        1. Read Chapter 4, 5, 7, 22, 24, 8, 6, 23, 9, 12 (in chronological order)

        2. Labs: Community structure and Estimating population size  (Maury)

                      Species diversity ( macroinvertebrates)

                      Ecological competition (owl pellets and biomass of prey, carrying capacity)

                      Human population demography (computer lab)

                      Human population dynamics (cemetery lab)

       

Unit II. Renewable and nonrenewable resources  (20 class periods)

     A. Geology, water, and food resources          

       1.  Read: Chapters 10, 13, 14

       2.  Labs: Soil Structure

                      Water Quality Assessment

                       Carbon cycling - plant and animal biomass

     B. Toxicology, human health, pesticides

        1. Read ch 11, 20 

        2. Labs: human activities and toxicology

       

Unit III. Interdependence of Earth’s systems (16 class periods)

     A. Flow of Energy

          1. Read ch 3 and 15

          2. Labs: announced at later date

    B. Energy Efficiency

         1.  Read ch 16 & review 2

         2.  Labs: Comparison lab

        

Unit IV: Global Change and Environmental Quality (25 class periods)        

   A. Global change

        1. Read Ch 17 & 18

        2. Labs: ozone lab

   B. Environmental Quality

        1.  Read Ch 19 & 21

        2.  Labs: possible HRSD trip

 

V. Environment and Society (19 class periods)